forerunnernoun [ C ]
uk/ˈfɔːˌrʌn.ər/us/ˈfɔːrˌrʌn.ɚ/something or someone that acts as an early and less advanced model for what will appear in the future, or a warning or sign of what is to follow:
Germany's Green party was said to be the forerunner of environmental parties throughout Europe.
The drop in share prices in March was a forerunner of the financial crash that followed in June.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Preceding and introducing
- announce
- antedate
- beat
- build-up
- countdown
- curtain-raiser
- emcee
- herald
- introduction
- introductory
- lead 1
- lead up to sth
- lead-in
- open the door to sth idiom 1
- preamble
- predecessor
- preface
- preliminary
- prelude
- usher
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